We have all been there: you get home with no time, no desire to cook, or, let’s be honest, just a little bit lazy. Don’t hide, I know it has happened to you! In those moments, turning to fast food is the easy way out, but today I bring you the perfect solution to level things up. We are going to take a simple supermarket serrano ham pizza and transform it into a spectacular gourmet dish. The problem with these pre-cooked pizzas is that, although they get you out of a jam, they are often so salty that you spend the whole afternoon drinking water non-stop. To solve this, we are going to balance the flavors by adding freshness, a very special crunchy touch, and a lot of personality, without losing the concept of a quick and uncomplicated recipe.
Watch the video with all the steps
Below you can watch the video with all the steps of the recipe to prepare a upgraded serrano ham pizza in the easiest way.
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Main ingredients
For 1 pizza
⏱ Preparation time: 12 min
⏱ Cooking time: 9 min
- 1 supermarket serrano ham pizza
- 2 fresh artichokes (or 150 g of frozen artichokes)
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs
- Fresh mint and fresh parsley
- Extra virgin olive oil
Remember: At the end of the article, you will find the complete recipe card with detailed cooking and preparation times.
How to prepare the upgraded serrano ham pizza step by step
Sauté the artichokes
If using fresh artichokes, clean them well and leave them in water with half a lemon. In a pan, put a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a garlic clove cut in half. When the oil is flavored, add the artichokes and a pinch of salt. To keep them nice and tender, cover them with a piece of paper towel slightly dampened with water.
Prepare the herbs and the crunchy touch
While the artichokes are cooking, chop some parsley and a few mint leaves. The cut doesn’t have to be perfect; we are cooking practically. In a small bowl, put the breadcrumbs, add a drizzle of olive oil, and mix well. When the artichokes are golden and tender, remove the garlic, add a portion of the chopped herbs to the pan, and sauté everything together for a few more seconds.
Strategic two-phase baking
Preheat the oven to 220 degrees (or whatever your serrano ham pizza indicates). The total time is usually about 9 minutes. The trick is to put the pizza in the oven alone for the first 6 minutes. We don’t add the ingredients from the beginning to prevent the artichokes from drying out too much and the herbs from burning.
Add the ingredients and finish baking
Take the pizza out when it is half-done. Distribute the artichokes abundantly over the base, as the ham is a very strong ingredient and we need to balance it. The obvious thing would be to add Italian cheese, but to avoid clashing with the cheese the pizza already has, we sprinkle our breadcrumbs with oil. This will give a crunchy touch without unbalancing the whole. Put it back in the oven for 3 or 4 more minutes.
The final touch before serving
Fresh out of the oven, give it the finishing touches: sprinkle a little black pepper, add the rest of the fresh herbs we had reserved to provide fresh nuances, and finish with a thin drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. You will be amazed by the change!
Tricks and tips for a perfect result
Express steam cooking for the artichokes
Covering the artichokes in the pan with a dampened paper towel is a fantastic trick. It allows them to cook evenly, browning on the outside but remaining extremely tender on the inside thanks to the steam that is generated.
Pangrattato instead of more cheese
To elevate a serrano ham pizza, adding more cheese would only make it heavier and saltier. “Pangrattato” (breadcrumbs) mixed with olive oil is a secret of traditional Southern Italian cuisine that adds a spectacular crunchy touch without overloading the dish.
The contrast of fresh herbs
Adding fresh mint and parsley when taking the pizza out of the oven is essential. These herbs provide clean and refreshing aromas that cleanse the palate and balance the intensity of the cured meat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen artichokes for this recipe?
Yes, of course. If you are short on time, using frozen artichoke wedges is a quick and very valid option that will save you the prior cleaning process.
Why don’t I put all the ingredients together when putting the pizza in the oven?
If you bake the artichokes and herbs from minute one, they will dry out too much and lose their freshness. Baking the pizza alone first and adding the rest halfway through ensures a perfect texture.
What role does mint play in this dish?
Fresh mint adds a very clean and aromatic herbal note that helps refresh the mouth, wonderfully counteracting the excess salt that supermarket pizza usually has.
Does this trick work for other types of pre-cooked pizzas?
Totally! The technique of crunchy breadcrumbs and fresh herbs works great to lift the flavor of any basic pizza, such as a margherita or a four-cheese.
Is it necessary to add garlic when sautéing the artichokes?
Garlic helps flavor the oil and gives a lot of depth to the flavor of the artichokes. It is used cut in half so it can be easily removed before putting the vegetables on the dough.
Related recipes you will love
If you like quick tricks to elevate your dishes, here are other recipes from my “Tricks and Tweaks” series that you can’t miss:
- Truffle and sausage pizza: discover how to transform another supermarket pizza into an exquisite gourmet version.
- Pasta with mushrooms and ham: a super easy recipe, super creamy and without using cream.
- Pasta with clams and saffron: the ultimate trick to achieve an incredible seafood dish using canned clams.
Enjoy your gourmet creation at home!
This recipe is proof that with a little imagination and knowing the ingredients well, you can fix any supermarket meal in record time. Go ahead and prepare it at home when you are in “lazy” mode and tell me in the comments if you noticed the difference.
If you liked this recipe, subscribe to my YouTube channel and Instagram to discover more authentic Italian dishes and quick tricks. Leave a comment with your impressions and share your photos on social media. I would love to see your creations!
Enjoy your meal!
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The card
Supermarket serrano ham pizza, Italian-style makeover
Ingredients
- 1 supermarket serrano ham pizza
- 2 medium fresh artichokes or 150 g of frozen artichoke wedges
- 1 garlic clove
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 5 fresh mint leaves
- 1/2 lemon for the soaking water if using fresh ones
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Clean the fresh artichokes and leave them in water with half a lemon (skip if using frozen)
- Heat a generous splash of olive oil in a pan with the garlic cut in half
- Sauté the artichokes and add a pinch of salt
- Cover the artichokes with water-soaked kitchen paper to steam them
- Roughly chop the fresh parsley and mint
- Mix the breadcrumbs with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil in a bowl
- Remove the garlic from the artichokes when they are tender and add some of the chopped herbs
- Preheat the oven to 220 degrees or follow the pizza instructions
- Bake the pizza alone for about 6 minutes until half-cooked
- Take out the pizza and distribute the sautéed artichokes and breadcrumbs on top
- Bake for 3 or 4 more minutes
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with black pepper and the remaining fresh herbs
- Add a final drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and serve immediately
Video
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The heart of my setup. A mirrorless camera designed specifically for vlogging. It offers exceptional 4K video quality and real-time eye autofocus that ensures the image is always sharp, even while I'm cooking or moving around.
Versatility in every shot. This zoom lens is compact and lightweight, ideal for switching between wide shots of the kitchen and close-ups of ingredients. Its built-in optical image stabilization helps make handheld shots much smoother.
Cinematic stability. A professional gimbal that eliminates any image shake. It includes an integrated LED fill light and an ergonomic design that allows you to record creative angles with total smoothness.
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